Porsche 718 Cayman (2016) Review

Porsche 718 Cayman (2016) At A Glance

Brilliant to drive. Feels more special than mainstream alternatives.

Four-cylinder engines won't appeal to everyone. Not as practical or as modern inside as rivals.

Real MPG average for a Porsche 718 Cayman (2016)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Reviews for Porsche 718 Cayman (2016)'s top 3 rivals

Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Breathtaking good looks and outstanding handling. R model is brutally quick. Cabin is classy and comfortable....

Ford Mustang

Guaranteed to get attention. 5.0-litre V8 sounds fantastic engine. No other car can match the V8 for...

Audi TT

Characterful and powerful engine, easy pace with plentiful and surefooted grip, practical yet desirable...

Ask Honest John

Can you recommend a reliable, good-looking, two-seater sports car?

"I have £30,000 cash to spend on a two-seater sports car. Now, hopefully, with better weather and improved prospects on the horizon, what would you advise to buy? The looks and street cred are important, preferably a classic look and I want something reliable. Performance is not a top priority. Don't want MG, Triumph or an MX-5. Any ideas? Many Thanks."

How about a Jaguar F-Type? It's a very stylish choice available as a coupe or convertible. A Porsche Boxster or Cayman could be a good alternative. None of these will be cheap to run, though. A Mazda MX-5 is unbeatable if that's what you're after.

Answered by Andrew Brady

What sporty, 5-door, reliable cars could you recommend?

"Our 12 year old Audi A3 2.0 TDI Sportback has done 100,000 miles, so will be going, and we need a third car to back up our Ford S-Max 2.0 Ecoboost and Porsche Cayman GTS. The front runner is a Mazda 3 2.0 165 Sport, which you report very favourably on. It will be for general/family use (we have 3 kids: aged six, eight and ten) and Drivethedeal can supply one for under £20,000. Are there any other suggestions that should be considered for a sporty, five-door, good to drive, reliable car? We wouldn't touch VWG at the moment and a Ford Fiesta ST would be nearly perfect except it may be a bit small. Secondly, if we go for the Mazda, I cannot find any mention on the Michelin site that they do 18-inch cross-climates (which the Mazda rides on)."

You can get Cross Climates in 205/60 R16, which is the other size on the Mazda 3, but the Michelin site becomes very frustrating looking for 18-inch whether you just look for tyre size or try to input the actual car. You're obviously looking for a bit of power, but we had huge fun in the low power Mazda 3, though admittedly in Northern Scotland on almost empty roads: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/mazda/mazda-3-2017-road-test/?

Answered by Honest John

New tax system - does the premium price rate include extras?

"Could you tell me if the new premium rate car tax in 2017 [above £40,000] is basic list price or the cost with added extras?"

It has now been confirmed that it is price plus added extras, so you can't, for example, get a car listed at £39k then load it up with £20k's worth of extras and then escape the £310 luxury tax loading for cars over £40,000.

Answered by Honest John

On the inside of an Porsche 718 Cayman (2016)

Porsche isn't overly generous with its standard equipment levels, so you'll have to spend more for things like electric seat adjustment (£1599 on the basic Cayman), adaptive cruise control (£1094) and parking sensors (£623 for front and rear). Heated seats are £294, automatic climate control is £539 and ISOFIX child seat mounting points are £126.

What you do get as standard is a cosy and classy interior, with lots of soft-touch materials. The driving position is excellent - nice and low down, ideal for a sports car, without compromising in terms of visibility. You get a pretty good view of the road ahead and the Cayman's an easy enough car for driving around town.

Practicality isn't the Cayman's strong point. You don't get much in terms of stowage space inside the car, with slim door pockets and a shallow storage compartment under the centre armrest. It's comfortable, though, with plenty of support in the seats for long journeys.

On paper, there's a decent amount of boot space, with luggage capacity quoted at 425 litres. This is split between two compartments in the front and rear of the car. They're fine for carrying soft bags for a weekend away or a few shopping bags, but you're not going to get a set of golf clubs in there. There aren't any rear seats so you've got no chance of carrying more than two people, and there's no space behind the seats inside.

There's a seven-inch touchscreen media display in the centre of the dash, which is easy enough to operate with clear graphics and fast responses. Apple CarPlay is standard too, although there's no Android Auto. It does look a little dated compared to some of the slick infotainment systems offered on rivals like the Audi TT, and the long line of buttons on the centre console (or not, if you've been tight with the options list) also looks a little old school.

It's worth paying extra for a premium sound system, in our opinion - the Bose surround sound system (£834) is much better than the standard radio, while the £2769 Burmester unit will appeal to audiophiles.

Child seats that fit a Porsche 718 Cayman (2016)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Which car seat will suit you?

Driving Porsche 718 Cayman (2016)

• Engines range from Cayman T to Cayman GTS PDK
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 23–40 mpg

The entry-level Porsche Cayman uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 300PS, while the Cayman S uses a 2.5-litre with 350PS. There's also the GTS, which uses the same 2.5 with power boosted to 365PS.

Enthusiasts are still angry at Porsche for dropping the old six-cylinder petrol engines, but the ongoing drive for fuel economy and reduced emissions put an end to those (although there is also the six-cylinder GT4 if the four-pot irritates you that much...). While the entry-level 2.0-litre might sound weedy, 300PS means it's got more than enough power for most drivers, while its claimed fuel economy of up to 33.2mpg isn't bad for a car of this type.

Sitting between the standard Cayman and the Cayman S is the Cayman T. This uses the 2.0-litre engine and doesn't boast an increase in power, but it does feature a shortened gear shift (unless you opt for the PDK auto... we'll come onto that), a 20mm lower ride height and the Sport Chrono package including a variety of drive modes.

No matter whether you opt for the 2.0- or 2.5-litre Cayman, it's very eager to accelerate at any revs. Maximum torque is available from around 2000 to 4500rpm, but there aren't any noticeable flatspots - even approaching the redline. Whether you're shuffling about in traffic or out for a spirited drive, the Cayman is both easy yet rewarding to drive.

The Porsche Cayman comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, which is a delight to use. It has a short throw (particularly on the Cayman T model) and offers precise changes, although most buyers will be better catered for with the PDK automatic transmission.

Yes, buying a Porsche sports car with an automatic gearbox might raise eyebrows, but it's one of the best dual-clutch transmissions on the market. Changes are near-instantaneous and you can always take control with the paddles behind the steering wheel should you feel the need.

No matter which engine and gearbox you go for, the Cayman's handling is nothing short of sublime. Even the ride is pretty compliant, with the optional adaptive dampers (dubbed Porsche Active Suspension Management or PASM) in particular doing a very good job of smoothing out bumps. We're not talking SUV levels of softness, but the Cayman isn't as uncomfortable over speed bumps as you might expect.

In corners, there's no noticeable lean, while the front of the car is eager to turn in no matter how many liberties you're taking. There's a huge amount of grip on offer, while the steering is wonderfully direct and communicative. Whatever the situation, you'll enjoy driving the Cayman.

Porsche 718 Cayman (2016) Models and Specs

Currently on sale

On sale until July 2020

On sale until April 2017